Four Kumaras

For Sanat Kumara from Theosophy, see Sanat Kumara.

The Four Kumāras or Catursana are the four sons of Brahma from the Puranic texts of Hinduism[1] named Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara.

Born from Brahma's mind, the four sons are described as great sages who undertook lifelong vows of celibacy (brahmacharya) against the wishes of their father.

The Bhagavata Purana lists the Kumaras among the twelve Mahajanas (great devotees or bhaktas)[2] who although being eternally liberated souls from birth, still became attracted to the devotional service of Vishnu from their already enlightened state. Despite being very senior in age the Four Kumaras are said to wander the universe in the forms of small children [3]. They play a significant role in a number Hindu spiritual traditions, especially those associated with the worship of Krishna and Vishnu.

Contents

Nimbarka Sampradaya

Four kumaras are the acharya in parampara of nimbarka sampradaya of vaishnavism.Also called as Chatuh Sana Sampradaya

See also

References

  1. ^ Bhag-P 3.15.12 "Lord Brahma said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara, who were born from my big mind"
  2. ^ Bhag-P 6.3.20-21
  3. ^ Bhag-P 7.1.37 "Although these four great sages were older than Brahma's other sons like Marici, they appeared like small naked children only five or six years old"

External links

Dashavatara
Matsya · Kurma · Varaha · Narasimha · Vamana · Parashurama · Rama · Krishna · Balarama* · Buddha* · Kalki
Other avatars
Catursana · Narada · Nara-Narayana · Kapila · Dattatreya · Yajna · Rishabha · Prithu · Dhanvantari · Mohini · Vyasa · Prsnigarbha · Hayagriva · Hamsa
*Buddha or Balarama is considered the avatar of Vishnu, depending on the tradition. In North India, Buddha is included and in South India, Balarama.